Treatment with radioactive iodine

Treatment with radioactive iodine in most European countries and in Russia is used with limitations. It is mainly used in the USA. Capsules or a liquid that contains radioactive iodine are sometimes injected into a vein. However, the most commonly used method is oral (oral by mouth).

In Russia and Europe, iodine treatment is carried out in special departments of hospitals equipped with a radiation protection system . In America, therapy is carried out in outpatient settings. Thus, in the US, this method is considered economically more beneficial than surgical intervention.

Treatment of the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine has the following mechanism: selective accumulation of iodine occurs in the cells of the gland, which provokes their death and replacement with a connective tissue.

Radioisotopes of the element in relatively high concentrations are present in the dairy and salivary glands, as well as in the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Treatment with radioactive iodine does not have a significant side effect on nearby tissues. Radiation is mostly represented by beta particles. They are able to penetrate the tissue no more than 2.2 mm.

When the central parts of the thyroid gland tissue are destroyed, in the peripheral regions the ability to produce hormones remains.

Certain conditions are met during the therapy.

Treatment with radioactive iodine suggests the withdrawal of thyreostatic drugs in a few days. This is due to the ability of the means to lower the effect of the element.

Women in reproductive age (childbearing) undergo an express test for pregnancy. In the case of a positive result, treatment with radioactive iodine is not carried out.

In the presence of ophthalmopathy (changes from the eyes) before the appointment of therapy, it is recommended to undergo a course of glucocorticoids or external irradiation of orbits.

Depending on the total volume of the thyroid gland, the applied dose is calculated. Determination of the volume of this organ is carried out with the help of ultrasound.

In the presence of concomitant diseases before the initiation of iodine therapy, they are eliminated. Vitaminotherapy is recommended.

During lactation, a woman is recommended either to cancel breastfeeding for the period of iodine treatment, or to postpone therapy.

As practice shows, the effect of the therapy is reached after two to three months. In some cases, repeated therapy may be required.

It should be noted that, despite the high efficiency of the method used, its safety for some specialists remains questionable. Together with this, it is known that in radioactive iodine a short half-life (reduction of activity in half) is eight days. This fact does not contribute to long-term pollution of the environment. Thus, for the surrounding patients, as a source of radiation, there is no great danger.

Excretion of radioactive iodine occurs with urine. In special departments, subject to simple hygienic rules, radiation will not spread.

This therapeutic method is allowed for use in patients over the age of forty-forty-five years. However, today there are prerequisites for changing this indication and removing the existing restriction. This is due to the fact that most of the patients with toxic goiter (diffuse) are women from twenty to forty years old.

The use of radioactive iodine is indicated in case of the return of thyrotoxicosis symptoms after the drug or surgical treatment.

It should be noted that in some cases this therapy is applied to children.

If the volume of goiter is more than 40 milliliters, the use of radioactive iodine is not advisable, since it will require a significant dose of it.